Animal catching and holding implement.



No. 640,I99. Patented Ian. 2, I900. J. S. HOLLAND.

ANIMAL CATCHING AND HOLDING IMPLEMENT.

(Application filed Sept. 30, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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JOHN S. HOLLAND, OF COLOMA, MISSOURI.

ANIMAL CATCHING AND HOLDING IMPLEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,199, dated January2, 1900.

Application filed September 30, 1899. Serial No. 782,217. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN S. HOLLAND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Goloma, in the county of Carroll and State of Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Animal Catching and Holding Implement, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to animal catching and holding implements,and hasforits object to provide a simple and efiective device of this characteradapted for use on various kinds of animals and embodyingpositivelyacting devices under the control of an operator and in its useavoid injuryto the animal.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be morefully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure I is a perspective view of an animal catchingand holding im plement embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2is a longitudinal vertical section through the implement in closedcondition and on the line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation ofa locking part of a device.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a handle which may be of any preferred form andnecessary length and secured in a socket 2, extending upward and with aslight lateral deflection from a curved rigid jaw 5. To one extremity ofthe jaw 5 hinge-plates 6 are riveted or other wise fastened and extendbeyond the terminal of the said jaw to form an open space between themand pivotally receive the one end of a movable jaw 7. The oppositeextremity of the jaw 5 has a seat therein constructed, as shown, in oneform by catch-bars 8, firmly secured thereto and having their projectingends 9 formed with catch-shoulders 10 and reduced tongues 11, havingbeveled edges 12 adjacent the said shoulders, the seat being providedbetween the projecting ends of the catch-bars to form a receptive meansfor the shouldered free end 13 of the movable jaw 7.

The end of the jaw 7 pivotally mounted between the hinge-plates 6 has aninwardlyextending angularly-disposed foot 14, and secured in an opening15,f0rmed therein nearthe free extremity and adjacent the edge closestto the said jaw 7, is a doubled cord or other analogous connectingdevice 16, having its opposite end attached to the front terminal of aretractile spring 17, which is secured at its opposite extremity to thehandle 1. The free extremity of the jaw 7 is also supplied with a latch19,havin g a bifurcated shank 20,pivotally connected to the said jaw,and a head 21, having a locking-shoulder 22. This latch 19 is freelymovable to operate as desired on the said jaw 7 and has secured theretothe front looped end 23 of a pull-cord or analogous device 24. Theopposite strands of the looped end 23 embrace the free extremity of thejaw 7, and the said cord 24 is then threaded through an eye or similarguide 25, fixed on the inner portion of the stationary jaw5 between theposition; of the catch-bars 8 and close to the open space between'theprojecting ends of the latter. From the eye or guide 25 the cord 24 isdirected toward the handle 1 and threaded through another eye or guide26, fastened in the handle 1. This cord 24 may be of any suitable lengthand extend along the handle through'suitable guiding devices.

It will be observed that the upward incline of the socket 2 disposes thejaw 5 and the parts carried thereby close to a ground or other surfacewhen theimplementis arranged for operation, and in the make-up of theseveral parts lightness of construction'will be of paramountconsideration and strong metal used to resist the strain and avoidbreakage. It is also intended by the arrangement of the devices in thepresent implement to avoid contact of the jaws thereof with the leg ofthe animal trapped and to position the holding means within the confinesof the closed jaws.

In the use of the device it is first set, as shown by Fig. 1, and inthis arrangement the jaw 7 is drawn outward and thrown over against theresistance of the spring 17, and when the said jaw has been thrownoutward far enough to dispose the foot 14 past the pivotal center, withthe spring exerting its the pressure of the said leg on the taut cord24; extending across both jaws and at the same time held against slackat the end on the handle, will thereby cause an inward pull on the jaw 7through the medium of the latch 19, to which said cord is attached.Simultaneously with this inward pull on the jaw 7 the latch 19 is closedover on the jaw 7 and a slight drawing tension exerted on the cord 24:,running along the handle 1. As soon as the foot 14 is inward far enoughthe spring 17 will act to automatically close the jaw 7 and cause theshouldered end 13 thereof to enter the space between the projecting endsof the catchbars 8, the free end of the jaw 7 striking against the endof the jaw 5 between the tongues 11, and thereby aline the shoulder 13with the shoulders 10 of said catch-bar, and at the same time the headof the latch 19 is riding upwardly over the reduced ends of thecatch-bar and until the shoulder 22 coincides with and locks against thesaid shouldered end 13 of the jaw 7 and the shoulders 10 of thecatch-bar. Simultaneously with the automatic closing operation of thejaw 7 the cord 24E, running along the handle 1, is drawn rearward toform the loop around the leg of the trapped animal, as shown by Fig. 1in dotted lines, and thereby firmly hold the animal with a yieldingpressure and avoid injury to the limb. The pressure of the loop formedby the cord 24 around the leg of the trapped animal can be varied at thewill of the operator, and after securement by other means the animal maybe released from the attaching and holding device. The handle 1 by meansof the deflection of the socket 2 is directed approximately in thecentral line of the loop formed by the cord 16, longitudinallyconsidered, to give a better purchase in holding the trapped animal bymeans of said cord and handle. The implement will be found very usefulfor domestic use in catching and throwing hogs, sheep, and the like forvarious purposes and is also equally well useful in trapping wildanimals and may be set like any other trap device and operated from adistance by lengthening the cord 16. To make the cord or connectingdevice 16 strong and durable, it is looped and the opposite strandsdisposed on reverse sides of the jaw 5.

Changes in the form, proportions,and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In animplement of the character set forth, the combination of a handle havinga fixed jaw, a movable jaw pivoted to one extremity of the fixed jaw,and a cord connected to the movable jaw and operatively guided inrelation to the fixed jaw, said cord being in loose engagement with thefixed jaw and extending along the handle, the said cord being disposedacross both jaws and by the operation of the movable jaw, caused to forma loop around the leg of the animal within the confinement of both jaws.

2. In an implement of the character set forth, the combination of ahandle, a fixed jaw thereon, a movable jaw attached to one extremity ofthe fixed jaw, a cord connected to the movable jaw and extending acrossboth jaws in an operative positiornsaid cord being in loose engagementwith the fixed jaw and extending along the handle, means forautomatically closing the movable jaw after it has passed a certainpoint, and means for locking both jaws closed.

3. An implement of the character set forth, com prising a movable jawand a fixed jaw and a cord connected to the movable jaw and extendingacross both jaws when the movable jaw is open, said cord being in looseengagement with the fixed jaw and continued along the handle and forminga loop within the confinement of the jaws which incloses the leg of thetrapped animal.

4; In an implement of the character set forth, the combination of ahandle, an arm having a rear angularly-bent end attached to said handle,a fixed jaw secured to said arm, a spring-actuated movable jaw pivotedto one extremity of the fixed jaw, a cord connected to the movable jaw,loosely engaging the fixed jaw and continued along the handle and byopening the movable jaw extended across both jaws, and means for lockingthe mov able jaw closed.

5. In an implement of the character set forth, the combination of ahandle, a fixed jaw connected to the handle, a movable jaw having aninwardly-extending angular foot at its point of attachment to the fixedjaw, a spring connected to the handle and said foot, a cord foroperating the movable jaw and extended across both jaws when the movablejaw is open, and means for locking the movable jaw closed.

6. In an implement of the character set forth, the combination of ahandle, a fixed jaw connected thereto and having catch-bars on oneextremity, a movable jaw pivotally attached to the other extremity ofthe fixed jaw and having its free end shouldered, a latch pivotallymounted on the free extremity of the movable jaw, means forautomatically closing the movable jaw after it has passed a certainpoint, and a cord attached to the latch on the movable jaw and looselyguided adjacent the said catch-bars, said cord being continued along thehandle and forming a loop around a leg of the trapped animal.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. HOLLAND.

Witnesses:

DANIEL R. BARTLETT, ROBERT J. PARSLEY.

